KARACHI, Nov 15: Federal Health Secretary Syed Anwar Mehmood has said that three centres would be set up for rehabilitation of the earthquake survivors with amputated limbs who need artificial limbs.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) here on Tuesday, he said that the centres had been planned to be set up in Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and Islamabad.

He said that the health ministry wanted to restore the infrastructure of health facilities in quake-hit areas for long-term purposes.

The ceremony was held to distribute certificates of appreciation among health volunteers, including doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, of the NICH and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre who had rendered medical services to survivors in the quake-affected areas of Azad Kashmir. Commendation certificates were given to 257 volunteers at the ceremony.

The federal secretary thanked the volunteers for their dedication and services at a very crucial time. He also highlighted the government’s efforts towards rehabilitation of survivors.

Director of JPMC Prof Mashoor Alam gave a brief account of the assistance extended by JPMC staff to quake victims.

NICH Director Dr Afroze Ramzan told the gathering that 117 medical and nursing staff had been sent to the affected areas so far. More than 32 child survivors with various illnesses, including trauma, diarrhoea and pneumonia, were brought to Karachi and admitted to the NICH.